Hazard warning for United as troubled Chelsea eye FA Cup salvation

London, Could 18 (AFP) Determined to finish a dismal season on a excessive observe, troubled Chelsea supervisor Antonio Conte wants Eden Hazard to experience to his rescue in tomorrow’s FA Cup last in opposition to Manchester United.

Conte’s facet have been rocked by their failure to qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League after they stumbled to a disappointing fifth place end within the Premier League.

With Conte reportedly on the verge of leaving following his feud with the membership’s hierarchy over transfers, there’s a sense Chelsea are lurching via considered one of their common intervals of self-inflicted turmoil.

Whereas victory at Wembley this weekend would not erase the issues gripping Chelsea, it does supply an opportunity to dispel the notion that disharmony between Conte and his gamers has accelerated their decline.

Simply 12 months in the past, Chelsea swaggered into the FA Cup last because the newly topped Premier League champions following Conte’s dazzling debut season.

But they left Wembley empty-handed after a lacklustre 2-1 defeat in opposition to Arsenal that left a painful sting.

“You do not wish to be on the again of dropping two FA Cup finals in a row,” Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas mentioned.

“Final 12 months we did not play nicely. Now we have this remorse in our head and we wish to make it proper this time for certain.” Issues have not been the identical since and, regardless of his insistence that he would fortunately stay in cost subsequent season, Conte has carried the air of a person who is aware of he’s on borrowed time.

Towards that troubled backdrop, it will be a becoming coda to Conte’s woes if United supervisor Jose Mourinho was the person to shove his rival in the direction of the exit door.

Displaying indicators of cracking beneath the pressure of Chelsea’s turbulent season, Conte has been drawn right into a collection of petty and more and more bitter exchanges with former Chelsea boss Mourinho.

To keep away from the disagreeable prospect of watching Mourinho celebrating at his expense, Conte must discover a technique to unify his workforce following final weekend’s shambolic Three-Zero loss at Newcastle.

That outcome ended their prime 4 hopes and was emblematic of Chelsea’s diffident method for a lot of the season.

– ‘Unstoppable’ Hazard –

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Now their hopes of profitable the Cup for the primary time since 2012 lie largely with Belgium playmaker Hazard.

With Hazard unable to succeed in the heights he scaled throughout final season’s Premier League title-winning run, the Blues have spluttered badly up entrance, triggering quite a few complaints about their lack of leading edge from boss Antonio Conte.

The 27-year-old is not the one one responsible as Alvaro Morata, Willian and Pedro have additionally been inconsistent, however Hazard is Chelsea’s artistic lynchpin.

Worryingly for Chelsea, Hazard confirmed indicators of unrest this week when he admitted he would wait to see who the membership signal in the summertime earlier than deciding whether or not to signal a brand new contract.

Fabregas has little doubt motivated Hazard can see off United, saying:

“He is a improbable participant. When he is on his day he may be unstoppable.

“Now we have to ensure we give him the suitable service so he can work his magic and provides us a great efficiency, as a result of we are going to want that.” United, bidding to affix Arsenal with a record-equalling 13th FA Cup last victory, have fared higher than Chelsea after securing a second place end within the Premier League.

However Mourinho’s facet trailed 19 factors behind champions Manchester Metropolis and their supervisor’s cautious ways in a number of large video games, mixed with a tame Champions League exit in opposition to Sevilla, led to pointed questions on their lack of progress.

United defender Phil Jones insists profitable the third main trophy of Mourinho’s reign would make this season a step in the suitable route.

“I actually do not assume we’re distant. We’ll all the time have our critics as a result of we’re Man United, but it surely exhibits that we’re shifting in the suitable route beneath him,” Jones mentioned.

“I believe ending second and profitable the FA Cup most likely can be passable, however we all the time wish to win extra.

“This membership is so used to profitable issues. It’s a part of the historical past of this membership. We can not stand nonetheless. We won’t simply let the FA Cup last cross